Propelling and steering mechanism for vessels.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

I N. P. NELSON. PROPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR VESSELS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV-9.1905.

M 7 lllli Q Vi tneooes attuned;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELS P. NELSON, OF FOY, MINNESOTA.

PROPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR VESSELS- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed NovamberQ, 1906. Serial No. 286,596.

To all whom it may cancer-10.7.

Be it known that I, NELS P. NnLsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Foy, in the county of Beltrami and State of Minnesota, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Propelling and SteeringMechanism for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propelling and steering mechanism for vessels,and particularly to a propelling and steering system in which a suctionand forcing ap aratus is emplofied for drawing water into t e vessel,prefera ly at or near the bow thereof, and discharging the same-forciblyat the stern, so as to utilize the double effects of suction andrepulsion to propel the vessel forward.

The object of the invention is to provide asimple and efiectiveconstruction of propel- I ling mechanism acting on the aforesaidrinciple for propelling the vessel in either irection and controllingthe action thereof to a finedegree and, further, to provide meanswhereby the discharge-jet may be projected in different directions toeffect the steering of the vessel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction and arrangement of valve mechanism whereby the flow ofwater may be controlled to propel the vessel forward or backward.

In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a si e e evation of a vessel embodying my invention, aportion of the same being broken away to disclose the internal ropellingmechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical ongitudinal section, on an enlargedscale, of the flow-pipe,

showing the suction and force pump and the valve mechanism. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section through the hull, showing the arrangement of thesuction pipe or tubes and the contiguous end of the forward section ofthe flow-pipe. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a central vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through therear or outlet section of the flow-pipe and the discharge and steeringnozzle.-

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral -1designates the hull of a vessel, Within which is arranged a source ofsupply of a suitable primary fluid impelling medium, the numeral 2 desimating a conventionally-illustrated rece tac e to contain such medium,which may he in the form of steam, compressed air, or a hydrocarbonfluid, such as ga'solene, the rece tacle constituting in the firstinstance a boi eror generator and in the other instances a container ofsuitable character to hold air under pressure or the hydrocarbon.

A motor 3 of suitable construction is mounted in any preferred manner inthe vessel and communicates with the receptacle 2 tlrrough a supply-pipe4. This motor may be in the form of steam-engine, a compressed 7 airengine, or an internal-combustion engine, as desired. Arranged withinthe motor-cylinder is a piston 5, the rod 6 of which depends verticallyand is connected with a piston 7, arranged to operate in avertically-disposed cylinder 8, said piston and cylinder constituting asuction and force pump driven by the motor 3. The cylinder 8 is in opencommunication at its lower end with the central portion of the centralsection 9 of a flow-pipe,

which is completed by inlet and discharge sections 10 and 11 of smallerdiameter than sistance to effect a quick stoppage of the same. Theforward or suction section 10 is connected with divergently-arrangedsuctionpipes 12, which communicate at their forward ends withsuction-ports 13, formed in the sides of the ,bow of the vessel andthrough which water is drawn into said suction-pipes through the actionof the pump. At the junction of the pipes 10 and 12 a valve 14 isprovided to control the flow of water and cut off the same whenoccasionrequires. A valve 15 is also-provided in the discharge-pipesection 11 for a'similar purpose.

The (lischarge section 11 projects at its rear end through thehull'beneath the stern and terminates in a cup-shaped portion 16, withwhich communicates a disohargetube or nozzle 17, carrying aninverted-cupshapcd section 18, which is pivotally connected with thesaid cup-section 16 in any suitable manner, so as to permit the nozzleto swing in an arc of a circle in a horizontal plane in a directionlaterally or transversely of the vessel. A vertical steering-rod 1 9 issuitably "oumaled on the vessel and at its lower en in the cup-section16 and is connected with the cup-section 18 of the nozzle,

so as to effect aturningmovement thereof. The upper end of the rod orsteering-post 19 carries a suitable handle or steering-lever 20.

this construction it will be understood that the water discharged withforce through the nozzle 17 will force the vessel forward and that byswinging the nozzle 17 in one directn or the other thedischarging jetmay be caused to act upon the body of water at different angles uponeither side of central line of travel to steer the vessel in eitherdirection. Arranged within the main section 9 of the a I flow-pipe arevalve devices 20 and 21, each of which consists of a valve member22,pivoted to swing in either direction upon a pivot bolt or hanger 23,mounted upon the pipe. This a valve member is arranged within a hollowor;

cylindrical shell or casing 24, provided at its inboard end with a portand at its outrection. This permits the valve devicesto'. be ad usted sothat the valve members of the board end with 'a port 26. Each shell orcasing is formed in its top with'a longitudinal slot 27, which receivesthe shank of the bolt 23, the shell thus being free to slidelongitudinally on said shank as a guide. is movably mounted between thecenter of the plpe-section 9 and the pipe 10 or 11, as

the case may be, and is adapted to be adjusted through the medium of ane'xteriorly-proectmg rack-bar 28, engaged by an adjustingpinion 29,which may be-turned by any preferred type of operating means (not shown)for sliding the valve-shell toward and from the center of thevalve-chamber or flow-pipe I section 9. It will be observed, as shown infull and dotted lines 'inFig. 2, that when either valve-shell is at thelimit of its outward'movement the. valve member 22 will control theport25 and be free to swing outwardly only, while when the valve-shell isar-.

ranged atthe limit of its inward movement the valve member 22wlllcontrol the port 26 and be freewto swing only in theopposite di- ,valvedevices may be regulated to serve as I suction and dischargecheck-valves to control the fiow of the water in either directionfor'propelling the vessel backward or for- Fig-. 2 shows the shell ofthe valve 20 adqusted to the limit of its inward and the shell of thevalve 21 to the limit of its outward ,movement, from which it will beseen that the valve member '22 of the valve 20 will swing rearwardly toopen and forwardly to.

close the port 26, while the'corresponding valve member of the valve 21will swing rear wardly to open the port 25 and forwardly to close saidport. Hence upon the. upward movement of the piston 7 the check-valve 22of the valve device 21 will close to prevent Each shell the inlet ofwater through the n0zz1e 17,

while the-valve device 22 of valve 20 will open to allow water to bedrawn by the suction produced on such, stroke of the piston through thepipes 12 and 10 andinto the pump-cylinder 8. Upon the downward movementof the piston the valve member of valve 20 will close to prevent thewater in the chamber 9 and pump-cylinder from flowing forwardly, whilethe valve member of valve 21 will swing open, allowing the water to beforced through the pipe 11 and thence discharged through the nozzle 17.to propel' and steer the vessel. When the valve devices are adjusted tothe reverse positions, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) the operationwill be just the reverse and the action of the.

pump will draw in water through the nozzle and pipe-section 11' anddischargeit through the pipe-section 10, suction-pipes 12, and ports 13at the bow to propel the vessel backward or retard its forward speed. Bythis means the vessel may be completely controlled, and as in operationthe water is continuously sucked away from the bow and the formation ofripples prevented and discharged with force at the stern itwill beap-'parent that the resistance of the water at thebow to the propulsion ofthe vessel will be diminished and a combineddrawing and forcing actioninstituted to propel the vessel with great power and a diminishedcommotion of thesurroundin water. i

If desired, ad eating at their inner ends with the central section 9 andopening at theirv outer ends through the sides of the hull,respectively,

ditional flow-pipes communi' between the center and bow and sternporforward ends of the front set opening throughthe side walls of thehull between the center of the hull and the ports 13, while the rearends of the rear set of pipes will extend through the hull at a suitablepoint;

between the center of .the hull and stern. This arrangement of the pipesis primarily to enable. the vessel-t0 be 'more readily and convenientlymaneuvered, as will be readily understood.

is claimed as new is'- 1. Propelling mechanism for vessels com- Havingthus described the invention, what prising a flow-pipehaving suction anddischarge etween such portions,- swinging valves disposed respectivelybetween the ortions, a suction and discharge pump and suction anddischarge portions, adjustable ported valve shells or casings cooperatintherewith, and means for adjusting said shel s or casings to reverse theaction of the valves and adapt either to serve as a suc tion and theother as a discharge valve.

2. Propelling mechanism for vessels comprising a flow-pipe havingsuction and discharge portions, a suction and discharge pum between suchportions, guides upon the ow-pipe, swinging valves pivotally supportedby said guides and diaposed respectively between the pump an dischargeportions, adjustable ported valve shells or casings coo cratingtherewith, said shells being rovidc with guide-slots for the passage oft e guides, and means for adjusting said shells or casings to reversethe action of the valves and adapt either to serve as a 1 suction andthe other as a discharge valve.

suction and 3. Propelling mechanism for vessels comprising a flow-pipe,suction and dischargepipes communicating with the ends of the ]ustingthe casings to reverse the action of the valves and adapt either toserve as a suction and the other as a discharge valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature I in presence of twowitnesses.

I NELS, P. NELSON. Witnesses:

PETER NELSON, THEODORE NELsoN,

